2013 UFAs Who Have Ties to Arians, Bowles and Drake

[Mitch]

In perusing the lists of free agents of teams that Bruce Arians (Colts, Steelers), Todd Bowles (Eagles, Dolphins) and Darryl Drake (Bears) have worked with in the past two to three years, here are some names of players they might have an interest in bringing to Arizona.

While it would appear right now that because the Cardinals are over the cap that they won't be significant players in free agency---the way Bruce Arians said in his presser that decisions have to be made as the team prepares for free agency, it made me think that he, Steve Keim and Jason Licht will be clearing as much room as possible. So, who knows?

QBs:

1. Drew Stanton (6-3, 243, 7, Michigan St.)---Colts
2. Jason Campbell (6-5, 230, 9, Auburn)---Bears
3. Mike Vick (6-0, 215, 11, Virginia Tech)---Eagles
4. Matt Moore (6-3, 203, 7, Oregon St.)---Dolphins

Arians worked with Stanton every day last year---they got him from the Jets after the Jets acquired Tim Tebow. Wonder if Arians has interest. Wonder too if he would be interested in Mike Vick, seeing as Arians is a Hokie---one of the reasons why he loves RB Ryan Williams.

Drake's opinion of Campbell could be telling---I always felt like if he got in the right system with the right coach, he could be very good. Moore played reasonably well for the Dolphins in Bowles last year there.

RBs:

1. Rashard Mendenhall (5-10, 225, 6, Illinois)---Steelers
2. Reggie Bush (6-0, 203, 8, USC)---Dolphins

Mendenhall might not be too expensive because of his injury situation. Bush seems to be coming into his own---is playing much tougher these days.

WRs:

1. Donnie Avery (5-11, 200, 6, Houston)---Colts (60/781/3TD)
2. Mike Wallace (6-0, 189, 5, Mississippi)---Steelers 64/836/8...235/4,042/32
3. Brian Hartline (6-2, 199, 5, Ohio St.)---Dolphins (74/1,083/1TD)
4. Johnny Knox (6-0, 185, 5, Abilene Christian)---Bears (37/727/19.6/2TD)

Arians turned Avery's career around this past year. He's the kind of burner we have needed. Wallace thrived in Arians' offense---could be a wonderful reunion for them both if they could agree on a deal, and if the Cardinals can create the cap space. Harltine was outstanding versus us---the Dolphins might tag him, although one would think they would tag T Jake Long as their top priority.

Drake and Know have a very tight bond. Check out Drake's YouTube video in defensing Knox---it's Denny Green-esque! Know is still recovering from the terrible hit he took at the end of last year---back injury, But he says he will be 100% this year---and he averaged 19.6 ypc in 2011.

TE:

1. Anthony Fasano (6-4, 255, 8, Notre Dame)---Dolphins (41/332/5TD)

Fasano is one of the better all-around TEs.



T:

1. Winston Justice (6-6, 317, 8, USC)---Colts
2. King Dunlap (6-9, 330, 6, Auburn)---Eagles
3. Jake Long (6-7, 317, 6, Michigan)---Dolphins
4. Max Starks (6-8, 345, 10, Florida)---Steelers

Justice played well at RT for Arians this year. Long should get tagged, if not, wow. It would be interesting to see what Arians thinks about Starks---I think he made good progress with him---he certainly played well against us in the Super Bowl. Injuries and weight issues have been a concern.

G:

1. Ramon Foster (6-6, 325, 5, Tennessee)---Steelers
2. Chris Spencer (6-3, 309, 9, Mississippi)---Bears
3. Chilo Rachal (6-5, 323, 6, USC)---Bears
4. Lance Louis (6-3, 320, 5, San Diego St.)---Bears

Landing Foster or Spencer would be a coup---both are good, powerful guards.

C:

1. A.Q. Shipley---Colts (6-1, 309, 2, Penn. St.)---Colts (RFA)

Was solid as a starter for Arians this year.

DT/DE:

1. Casey Hampton (6-1, 325, 13, Texas)---Steelers
2. Fili Moala (6-4, 310, 5, USC)---Colts
3. Randy Starks (6-3, 305, 10, Maryland)---Dolphins
4. Henry Melton (6-3, 295, 5, Texas)---Bears

Starks would be a tremendous addition---Bowles knows him well. As would Melton, an inside rusher who snagged 6 sacks this year. Solid run stuffer too.

LB:

1. Dwight Freeney (6-1, 268, 12, Syracuse)---Colts
2. Darryl Trapp (6-1, 270, 9, Virginia Tech)---Eagles
3. Akeem Jordan (6-1, 230, 7, James Madison)---Eagles
4. James Harrison (6-0, 242, 10, Kent St.)---Steelers

Freeney and Harrison had off years in contract years---might make them more reasonable salary-wise. Trapp is a Hokie---and a good situational rusher. The one here who might be the guy is Akeem Jordan, who could slide right into Lenon's spot.

CB:

1. Darius Butler (5-10, 190, 6, Connecticut)---Colts
2. Sean Smith (6-3, 214, 5, Utah)---Dolphins
3. Keenan Lewis (6-0, 206, 5, Oregon St.)---Steelers
4. Jerraud Powers (5-10, 187, 5, Auburn)---Colts

Butler and Powers had very good seasons in Indy. Lewis is the Steelers' best CB---they will put a full court press on to re-sign him. But the guy I love here is Sean Smith---especially defending the bigger NFC West WRs.

S:

1. Chris Clemons (6-1, 210, 5, Clemson)---Dolphins (99 t, 2 int)

Had a good season---has upside.

Your thoughts?

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Drake was a WR coach for the Bears thus I don't see how that links him to all Bears free agents and the same could be said for Bowles. Bowles was a CB coach for the Phins and I just don't see how that links him to all of the Phins free agents, but obviously there would be a link to all of the defensive players of the Eagles. Arians is a different story though and I could see the possibility of him bringing in some of the guys let go by the Colts on both sides of the ball and the Steelers on offense.

My list would be more like:

QBs:

1. Drew Stanton (6-3, 243, 7, Michigan St.)---Colts

RBs:

1. Rashard Mendenhall (5-10, 225, 6, Illinois)---Steelers

WRs:

1. Donnie Avery (5-11, 200, 6, Houston)---Colts (60/781/3TD)
2. Mike Wallace (6-0, 189, 5, Mississippi)---Steelers 64/836/8...235/4,042/32
3. Johnny Knox (6-0, 185, 5, Abilene Christian)---Bears (37/727/19.6/2TD)

T:

1. Winston Justice (6-6, 317, 8, USC)---Colts
2. Max Starks (6-8, 345, 10, Florida)---Steelers

G:

1. Ramon Foster (6-6, 325, 5, Tennessee)---Steelers

C:

1. A.Q. Shipley---Colts (6-1, 309, 2, Penn. St.)---Colts (RFA)

DT/DE:

1. Casey Hampton (6-1, 325, 13, Texas)---Steelers
2. Fili Moala (6-4, 310, 5, USC)---Colts

LB:

1. Dwight Freeney (6-1, 268, 12, Syracuse)---Colts
2. Darryl Trapp (6-1, 270, 9, Virginia Tech)---Eagles
3. Akeem Jordan (6-1, 230, 7, James Madison)---Eagles
4. James Harrison (6-0, 242, 10, Kent St.)---Steelers

CB:

1. Darius Butler (5-10, 190, 6, Connecticut)---Colts
2. Sean Smith (6-3, 214, 5, Utah)---Dolphins
3. Keenan Lewis (6-0, 206, 5, Oregon St.)---Steelers
4. Jerraud Powers (5-10, 187, 5, Auburn)---Colts

S:

1. Chris Clemons (6-1, 210, 5, Clemson)---Dolphins (99 t, 2 int)

 

[Mitch]

Drake was a WR coach for the Bears thus I don't see how that links him to all Bears free agents and the same could be said for Bowles. Bowles was a CB coach for the Phins and I just don't see how that links him to all of the Phins free agents, but obviously there would be a link to all of the defensive players of the Eagles. Arians is a different story though and I could see the possibility of him bringing in some of the guys let go by the Colts on both sides of the ball and the Steelers on offense.

My list would be more like:

QBs:

1. Drew Stanton (6-3, 243, 7, Michigan St.)---Colts

RBs:

1. Rashard Mendenhall (5-10, 225, 6, Illinois)---Steelers

WRs:

1. Donnie Avery (5-11, 200, 6, Houston)---Colts (60/781/3TD)
2. Mike Wallace (6-0, 189, 5, Mississippi)---Steelers 64/836/8...235/4,042/32
3. Johnny Knox (6-0, 185, 5, Abilene Christian)---Bears (37/727/19.6/2TD)

T:

1. Winston Justice (6-6, 317, 8, USC)---Colts
2. Max Starks (6-8, 345, 10, Florida)---Steelers

G:

1. Ramon Foster (6-6, 325, 5, Tennessee)---Steelers

C:

1. A.Q. Shipley---Colts (6-1, 309, 2, Penn. St.)---Colts (RFA)

DT/DE:

1. Casey Hampton (6-1, 325, 13, Texas)---Steelers
2. Fili Moala (6-4, 310, 5, USC)---Colts

LB:

1. Dwight Freeney (6-1, 268, 12, Syracuse)---Colts
2. Darryl Trapp (6-1, 270, 9, Virginia Tech)---Eagles
3. Akeem Jordan (6-1, 230, 7, James Madison)---Eagles
4. James Harrison (6-0, 242, 10, Kent St.)---Steelers

CB:

1. Darius Butler (5-10, 190, 6, Connecticut)---Colts
2. Sean Smith (6-3, 214, 5, Utah)---Dolphins
3. Keenan Lewis (6-0, 206, 5, Oregon St.)---Steelers
4. Jerraud Powers (5-10, 187, 5, Auburn)---Colts

S:

1. Chris Clemons (6-1, 210, 5, Clemson)---Dolphins (99 t, 2 int)

These coaches know these players up front and close. Drake could tell Arians, for example, I saw Jason Campbell every day and if it had been my decision, I would have started him in front of Cutler. Or---he could say that Campbell, in his opinion, was underwhelming.

Bowles knew the players at Miami very well---he was an interim head coach, as was Arians. He is in a great position to recommend players to Arians and Keim. Plus, he could be the reason why a Sean Smith would want to come to Arizona.

 

[sportznutt]

I still like Jason Campbell as a 1-2 year stop gap while the rest of the team rebuilds.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

These coaches know these players up front and close. Drake could tell Arians, for example, I saw Jason Campbell every day and if it had been my decision, I would have started him in front of Cutler. Or---he could say that Campbell, in his opinion, was underwhelming.

Bowles knew the players at Miami very well---he was an interim head coach, as was Arians. He is in a great position to recommend players to Arians and Keim. Plus, he could be the reason why a Sean Smith would want to come to Arizona.

To be honest I don't know how much say those guys will even have in this process. I could certainly see Bowles having some say in it considering he will be running the whole defense, but Drake is simply a WR coach and I don't see him doing a lot more than just coaching whatever WRs he has.

 

[Chopper0080]

The Cardinals bringing in Mewelde Moore is about as big of a lock as you can get.

 

[TJ]

Matt Moore, baby. Need at least one other veteran in here. Good accuracy, good arm strength, but has always been in awkward situations in his career. He deserves a chance.

Best available QB, IMO. Free agency and draft.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[DoTheDew]

To be honest I don't know how much say those guys will even have in this process. I could certainly see Bowles having some say in it considering he will be running the whole defense, but Drake is simply a WR coach and I don't see him doing a lot more than just coaching whatever WRs he has.

You don't think Arians/Keim would ask Bowles/Drake for their opinions of guys they know personally? I sure hope they would. If you're going to bring a player to your team, why would you *not* consult staff members that have first hand accounts of them for their input?

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

You don't think Arians/Keim would ask Bowles/Drake for their opinions of guys they know personally? I sure hope they would. If you're going to bring a player to your team, why would you *not* consult staff members that have first hand accounts of them for their input?

Well if that's the case at least we have ties to teams other than just the Steelers..

 

[NJCardFan]

<snip>

I lost count of the amount of hell no's on that list. King Dunlap? I'd rather have Levi Brown. That's how bad Dunlap is. And Mike Wallace isn't going anywhere and if he were, we can't afford him.